7 
Partridges. —There are several descriptions, the grey and painted are the most 
common. The former are found in rough scrub jungle. The latter is a beautiful 
bird and is recognisable by its shrill cry heard in the grain fields when they come 
out to feed in the evening. They are picked up in all sorts of places, nullahs, 
grass and bushes. No. 6 shot for both. 
Sand Grouse. —'There are many varieties—the imperial in the north, common, 
pin tail, etc. They fly in flocks, except when pairing, and give very good sport, 
are usually found on sandy or rocky soil and always fly with a peculiar shrill 
metallic cry, which can be heard at great distances. During the hot weather 
when there is not much water they can be got very often by waiting at some pool 
as they drink about the same time every day, i.e. between 8 and 10 a.m. 
Quail. —There are four kinds—rain, grey, painted and bush. After the 
monsoon has set in rain quail are to be found in cotton fields and long grass, a 
call bird i.e. (a tame quail in a wicker cage) put into a field will soon attract others’ 
to it. Grey quail are found in all seasons in grass or thick scrub; painted also. 
No. 10 shot is the best for them. 
Hares are found on the borders of fields, thick grass or bushes and also on low 
bushy hills. They are very large and take a good deal of killing. No. 6 is the 
best shot for them. 
Bustard. —The great Indian bustard is rare and difficult to get. They are very 
wary and take all one’s ingenuity to get the better of them. They are found in 
wheat and cotton fields. I think one is justified in using a country cart in ap¬ 
proaching them as they are so rarely seen. By this means you can approach 
quite close, circling round until you are within range. They can be shot 
either with a rook rifle or No. 1 shot. They take a long time to rise and fly at 
what appears a slow rate, but they are really going much faster than one would 
think. I have once mistaken one for a black buck, they are so large. They are 
called “home ” by the natives from the cry they make. Having got “kubber” 
of them send out your shikaree to mark them down before you go out yourself. 
Plorican. —They are not plentiful and are very wary, running a long distance 
after alighting and are difficult to put up. No. G shot is sufficient for them. 
Black Buck. —Found over the greater part of India in great numbers and if not 
much shot at are easy to get. Stalking, except for those that are very wild, is a 
mistake. You should walk up naturally to them, plucking grass as you approach 
and only occasionally looking in their direction, move in a circle round them and 
gradually get nearer. They take a lot of killing and will go for miles with a 
leg broken or entrails protruding. Look for them in gram or wheat fields in the 
cold weather. 
Chikara. —A beautiful small gazelle found on the outskirts of ranges of hills, 
they are shy and a small mark in the distance. I have found the most successful 
plan is to follow them till they disappear over a small hill, then run as hard as 
possible to the top when they will generally be found quietly feeding in the valley 
below, having stopped as soon as you were out of sight. 
Weapons.— The following is a good battery for the plains for small game and 
antelope:— 
12 bore (left barrel choke) D.B. by good maker. 
*500 D.B. Express, by Holland & Holland. The 500 is perhaps a 
little heavy for antelope, but it can be used for big game also. 
Book liifle by Holland. Good for chikara. 
You can get the battery probably in India second hand from advertisements in the 
Pioneer. 
You want a good “ solali topi ” and a wadded covering for the back and 
shoulders, khaki shikar clothes with lots of pockets and rifle cartridge holders on 
either side of the breast, putties that will resist spear grass and heavy ammuni- 
